I’m not sure if every girl dreams of a fairy tale wedding, but I think every girl should dream for a man who cherishes her like King Solomon cherishes Shulamith. While some of these descriptions may seem a little strange to us, they are highly romantic. He is caressing her with his words, starting with her eyes.
When I first read today’s passage, I pictured the bride and groom standing before the preacher as Solomon took in her appearance. I think it was the veil that got me. Yet the veil is also a symbol for innocence and purity. Solomon was over the moon to be uniting with this woman. Bible scholars also suggest this is the start of their wedding night. Solomon is enjoying her beauty and telling her so. Music to Shulamith’s ears.
As a woman, I appreciated how gentle and sweet Solomon was with Shulamith. As a virgin, the whole unknown act of lovemaking can be frightening. Beyond that, many relationships have a breakdown in the sexual aspect because women either don’t feel treasured or have body image issues. To be told you are beautiful goes a long way in warming us up to enjoy the encounter to come.
I was curious about the superstition about seeing the bride before the wedding. Our daughter just got married this weekend, and when I talked with her, she was having an early lunch with her soon to be husband. She was quick to say that he wasn’t going to see her in her dress until later. Funny to know that whole thing started back when there were arranged marriages. The groom was not allowed to see the bride lest he run the other way and not go through with the wedding. In our love story in this passage, Solomon was surely not going to run the other way. He was very pleased with Shulamith, and he was not afraid to let her know.
In my own marriage, I know what it is to feel cherished. I can tell that my husband has read and studied this book of the Bible and understands how significant the truths shared here are to building a strong bond, both physical and emotional. It makes so much difference in how I feel about myself to be loved in this way. Every bride and groom should read this book of the Bible.
How we treasure our friends should be just as important. We should never take our friends for granted. They are gifts to us in so many ways. We should always be looking for ways to bless them, support them, and at all times listen to them. Don’t be afraid to tell your friends what they mean to you. Compliment them. Encourage them. Sometimes we forget to let our friends know what a treasure they are to us. (Be careful, they may wonder what’s up – why you’re getting all mushy!)
Think, too, how these words reflect our relationship with God. After all, he knows us intimately. He knows us better than we know ourselves, yet he loves us without end. That is a beautiful image to cling to. What would God say to you about your beauty and your worth? He thought enough of you to die for you. Your beauty is beyond description. Cling to this thought today – “God is crazy about you!”
Let’s pray … Father, thank you for loving me even when I feel unlovely. You see the beauty inside me that not many people ever see. Help me to call upon that beauty, those gifts and abilities, and use them to help other people. Show me, God, the way to draw your children back to you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
